Avery Perri

Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.

Best NBA prop bets March 26: Back guards Reaves, White and Grimes on Wednesday

NBA prop bets

Three guards headline Wednesday’s NBA prop bets.

The pregame narrative: Quentin Grimes is on a roll and has an A-plus matchup against the Washington Wizards. Bet on him to score and take the overs on props for Austin Reaves and Derrick White.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for March 26.

NBA prop bets

Best Bet: Grimes over 25.5 points (-125)

Can life get any worse for Dallas Mavericks fans? After trading away Luka Doncic and having Kyrie Irving suffer a season-ending ACL tear, Grimes has become an elite scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The guard was dealt from Dallas with a second-round pick for Caleb Martin at the trade deadline.

Martin is averaging 4.6 points in five appearances with the Mavs, and this is what Grimes has done in March with the Sixers:

  • 28.0 PPG
  • 19.5 FGA/game
  • 51.7 FG%
  • 39.8 3PT%
  • 25+ points in 10 of 12 games

That includes 46 points against the Houston Rockets, 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 28 against the Oklahoma City Thunder — all of which sit inside the top six for defensive rating.

Tonight, he goes up against the NBA-worst Wizards, who have just 15 wins in 71 games.

The Wizards are 28th in defensive rating and allow the second-most PPG to shooting guards, according to Fantasy Pros.

Key stat: Grimes is 6-1 against this line in his last seven games, scoring 25 points in the outlier.

Best NBA picks

Reaves over 4.5 assists (-130): Reaves dropped a career-high 45 points when he last played the Pacers. But there was a massive caveat: LeBron James and Doncic were sidelined.

Both are expected to suit up tonight, and I think that should push Reaves into more of a facilitation role.

The guard is averaging 5.4 helpers since Doncic first suited up on Feb. 10 and is 11-7 against this line.

He’s had at least four assists in six straight games and has cleared this mark in five of those contests. Indiana likes to play fast, and I expect it to dictate the tempo at home.

More possessions mean more assist opportunities for Reaves.

White 4+ threes (-118): White is the type of player you win championships with. The point guard isn’t the first or second option when Boston is fully healthy, but he’s become a quintessential 3 and D player.

  • White takes 68% of his shots from 3-point range, per Cleaning the Glass.
  • He’s averaging 3.5 threes on 38.5% shooting.
  • White has 3+ threes in 50 of 68 games.

That’s a fantastic floor to work with, and he should perform above that baseline tonight against the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix’s opponents are shooting 37.5% from deep since the all-star break (seventh-highest in the NBA).

NBA prop picks made at 9:18 a.m. ET on 03/26/2025.

Best NBA prop bets March 26: Back guards Reaves, White and Grimes on Wednesday

NBA prop bets

Three guards headline Wednesday’s NBA prop bets.

The pregame narrative: Quentin Grimes is on a roll and has an A-plus matchup against the Washington Wizards. Bet on him to score and take the overs on props for Austin Reaves and Derrick White.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for March 26.

NBA prop bets

Best Bet: Grimes over 25.5 points (-122)

Embed: #111712

Can life get any worse for Dallas Mavericks fans? After trading away Luka Doncic and having Kyrie Irving suffer a season-ending ACL tear, Grimes has become an elite scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The guard was dealt from Dallas with a second-round pick for Caleb Martin at the trade deadline.

Martin is averaging 4.6 points in five appearances with the Mavs, and this is what Grimes has done in March with the Sixers:

  • 28.0 PPG
  • 19.5 FGA/game
  • 51.7 FG%
  • 39.8 3PT%
  • 25+ points in 10 of 12 games

That includes 46 points against the Houston Rockets, 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 28 against the Oklahoma City Thunder — all of which sit inside the top six for defensive rating.

Tonight, he goes up against the NBA-worst Wizards, who have just 15 wins in 71 games.

The Wizards are 28th in defensive rating and allow the second-most PPG to shooting guards, according to Fantasy Pros.

Key stat: Grimes is 6-1 against this line in his last seven games, scoring 25 points in the outlier.

Best NBA picks

Reaves over 4.5 assists (-143): Reaves dropped a career-high 45 points when he last played the Pacers. But there was a massive caveat: LeBron James and Doncic were sidelined.

Both are expected to suit up tonight, and I think that should push Reaves into more of a facilitation role.

The guard is averaging 5.4 helpers since Doncic first suited up on Feb. 10 and is 11-7 against this line.

He’s had at least four assists in six straight games and has cleared this mark in five of those contests. Indiana likes to play fast, and I expect it to dictate the tempo at home.

More possessions mean more assist opportunities for Reaves.

White 4+ threes (+103): White is the type of player you win championships with. The point guard isn’t the first or second option when Boston is fully healthy, but he’s become a quintessential 3 and D player.

  • White takes 68% of his shots from 3-point range, per Cleaning the Glass.
  • He’s averaging 3.5 threes on 38.5% shooting.
  • White has 3+ threes in 50 of 68 games.

That’s a fantastic floor to work with, and he should perform above that baseline tonight against the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix’s opponents are shooting 37.5% from deep since the all-star break (seventh-highest in the NBA).

NBA prop picks made at 9:18 a.m. ET on 03/26/2025.

March Madness Sweet 16 parlay predictions: Bet on Duke to cover an alt spread in +290 wager

March Madness parlay predictions

It’s been a chalky March Madness so far, but two underdogs feature in this +290 Sweet 16 parlay.

The pregame narrative: The Michigan Wolverines and Kentucky Wildcats have thrived in underdog roles this season and are solid targets to tease up ATS. I’m still backing one favourite, though, as I expect the Duke Blue Devils to continue rolling.

Check out my March Madness parlay predictions for the Sweet 16.

March Madness parlay predictions

Parlay: Duke -7 | Michigan +10.5 | Kentucky +7 (+290)

Duke -7 (-175): All of Durham held its breath, or perhaps more likely screamed in agony, when Cooper Flagg exited the ACC tournament in a wheelchair.

But that was seemingly precautionary, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy winner has looked just fine in Duke’s two tournament games:

  • First round vs. Mount St. Mary’s: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
  • Second round vs. Baylor: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

When Flagg is in the lineup, beating the Blue Devils seems like an impossible task. Duke is 26-1 since Dec. 1 and has covered or pushed -7 spread in all but two of those victories.

The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats are no pushovers, but I struggle to see them scoring on the inside.

Arizona takes 53.5% of its shots from 2-point range (67th in NCAA Division I), and Duke holds opponents to a 43.1 FG% inside the arc (second in D-I), per KenPom.

College basketball parlay picks

Michigan +10.5 (-163): Michigan’s season was looking very unspectacular, until it wasn’t.

After losing to their rival Michigan State Spartans to close out the regular season, the then-No. 22 Wolverines went on a Big Ten championship run, beating the Purdue Boilermakers, Maryland Terrapins and Wisconsin Badgers in the process.

Dusty May’s group has kept the good times rolling, most recently beating the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies behind Roddy Gayle’s 21 second-half points.

Michigan is 7-2 ATS as an underdog this season, while the Auburn Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a favourite.

Kentucky +7 (-182): The Tennessee Volunteers faithful must be shaking in their cowboy boots right now. Kentucky has already beaten Tennessee twice this season and is primed to deliver a season-sweeping kill shot.

  • The Wildcats are 5-1 in their last six games vs. the Volunteers.
  • Kentucky is 8-4 ATS as an underdog this season, which includes two outright wins against Tennessee.
  • Tennessee takes 43.3% of its shots from 3-point range (79th in D-I) and Kentucky holds opponents to a 30.6 3PT% (24th in D-I).

Last season, Rick Barnes guided the Vols to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Considering the program’s status and funding, that’s meant to be an insult, not a compliment.

Tennessee has decent minutes continuity from last year (36.2%, 164th in D-1), and that’s noteworthy. But I’m banking on Barnes’ long-standing pedigree as a choke artist.

March Madness parlay predictions made at 12:35 p.m. ET 03/25/2025

March Madness Sweet 16 parlay predictions: Bet on Duke to cover an alt spread in +303 wager

March Madness parlay predictions

It’s been a chalky March Madness so far, but two underdogs feature in this +303 Sweet 16 parlay.

The pregame narrative: The Michigan Wolverines and Kentucky Wildcats have thrived in underdog roles this season and are solid targets to tease up ATS. I’m still backing one favourite, though, as I expect the Duke Blue Devils to continue rolling.

Check out my March Madness parlay predictions for the Sweet 16.

March Madness parlay predictions

Parlay: Duke -5.5 | Michigan +10.5 | Kentucky +7.5 (+303)

Embed: #111677

Duke -5.5 (-143): All of Durham held its breath, or perhaps more likely screamed in agony, when Cooper Flagg exited the ACC tournament in a wheelchair.

But that was seemingly precautionary, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy winner has looked just fine in Duke’s two tournament games:

  • First round vs. Mount St. Mary’s: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
  • Second round vs. Baylor: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

When Flagg is in the lineup, beating the Blue Devils seems like an impossible task. Duke is 26-1 since Dec. 1 and has covered a -5.5 spread in all but one of those victories.

The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats are no pushovers, but I struggle to see them scoring on the inside.

Arizona takes 53.5% of its shots from 2-point range (67th in NCAA Division I), and Duke holds opponents to a 43.1 FG% inside the arc (second in D-I), per KenPom.

College basketball parlay picks

Michigan +10.5 (-190): Michigan’s season was looking very unspectacular, until it wasn’t.

After losing to their rival Michigan State Spartans to close out the regular season, the then-No. 22 Wolverines went on a Big Ten championship run, beating the Purdue Boilermakers, Maryland Terrapins and Wisconsin Badgers in the process.

Dusty May’s group has kept the good times rolling, most recently beating the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies behind Roddy Gayle’s 21 second-half points.

Michigan is 7-2 ATS as an underdog this season, while the Auburn Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a favourite.

Kentucky +7.5 (-182): The Tennessee Volunteers faithful must be shaking in their cowboy boots right now. Kentucky has already beaten Tennessee twice this season and is primed to deliver a season-sweeping kill shot.

  • The Wildcats are 5-1 in their last six games vs. the Volunteers.
  • Kentucky is 8-4 ATS as an underdog this season, which includes two outright wins against Tennessee.
  • Tennessee takes 43.3% of its shots from 3-point range (79th in D-I) and Kentucky holds opponents to a 30.6 3PT% (24th in D-I).

Last season, Rick Barnes guided the Vols to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Considering the program’s status and funding, that’s meant to be an insult, not a compliment.

Tennessee has decent minutes continuity from last year (36.2%, 164th in D-1), and that’s noteworthy. But I’m banking on Barnes’ long-standing pedigree as a choke artist.

March Madness parlay predictions made at 12:35 p.m. ET 03/25/2025

Maple Leafs props vs. Flyers March 25: Bet on Auston Matthews to score, fade Matvei Michkov

Maple Leafs prop picks

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the downtrodden Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

The pregame narrative: Philadelphia has lost 10 of its last 11 games and is a prime candidate for Toronto to pounce on as the Leafs look to secure the Atlantic Division. I’m backing Auston Matthews to score and am fading Matvei Michkov.

Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Flyers for March 25.

Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Flyers

Best Bet: Matthews to score (-108)

Anything short of a win would be unacceptable for the Maple Leafs coming off a blown two-goal lead against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Philadelphia (28-35-9, 28th place in NHL) got shelled on Sunday, 7-3, by the Chicago Blackhawks of all teams and has its eyes on the golf course with 10 games to play.

Matthews has begun to look like his old self, and I expect him to lead from the front. Check out the captain’s numbers over the last five games:

  • 4 goals
  • 7 points
  • 21 shots (team-high)
  • 39 chances (team-high)
  • 19.05% shooting percentage

Matthews’ SH% in that span is notably greater than his season-long average (12.2%).

Samuel Ersson seems the likely candidate to start in goal for the Flyers with backup Ivan Fedotov giving up a seven-spot on Sunday — and it’s not like he’s been reliable.

Ersson ranks 40th in goals against average (3.00) and 50th in save percentage (.886).

Key stat: Matthews has six goals in his last six games against the Flyers, cashing this bet four times.

Quick pick

Michkov to not record a point (-134): Philadelphia’s goaltending has been awful, but its offence has also grown anemic at the worst time. That’s a pretty solid recipe for losing 10 of 11 games.

The Flyers are averaging 1.72 goals during this stretch, and Michkov has gone pointless in six of his last eight.

The Russian winger did put up two assists against the Blackhawks on Sunday, but Chicago is one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL.

Toronto has elite goaltending with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz operating in tandem, and its defensive lynchpin, Chris Tanev, is back in the lineup.

I expect a frenzied defensive effort from the Maple Leafs tonight after Saturday’s embarrassment.

Maple Leafs vs. Flyers prop picks made at 12:00 p.m. ET 03/25/2025.

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers SGP predictions March 25: Bet on Garland and Strus to produce at +300

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers predictions

The Cleveland Cavaliers close out a messy West Coast road trip on Tuesday when they play the Portland Trail Blazers.

The pregame narrative: Cleveland has lost four of its last five games and will be without Donovan Mitchell tonight. I’m backing Portland to cover an alternate spread in a +300 wager, which also features prop bets on Darius Garland and Max Strus.

Check out my Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers SGP predictions for March 25.

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers predictions

Parlay: Trail Blazers +10.5 | Garland 24+ points | Strus 2+ threes (+300)

Embed: #111671

Trail Blazers +10.5 (-245): Cleveland has lost four of five, and Portland has won four of five. At the risk of sounding reductive, that seems like a good place to start.

Of course, these teams couldn’t be more different when you zoom out. The Cavs (57-14) have the NBA’s best record, while the Trail Blazers are an unimpressive 32-40.

But Portland fights tooth and nail on a nightly basis and is one of the league’s best teams ATS:

  • 40-31-1 ATS (third-best in NBA)
  • 20-11-0 ATS as home underdogs
  • 13-2 vs. a +10.5 spread in last 15

The Blazers played the Cavs in Cleveland on March 2 and blew a 17-point lead before eventually falling 133-129 in overtime. Mitchell didn’t play in that game and I expect a similar result with him sidelined tonight.

NBA SGP legs

Garland 24+ points (-109): Garland stunk the joint out against Portland in that overtime thriller, scoring just 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting. It was ugly, but I’m willing to look past it for a few reasons.

  • Garland has scored 20+ points in each of his other five games without Mitchell this season (25+ points four times).
  • Portland allows the seventh-most points per game to opposing point guards (25.22), per Fantasy Pros.

Garland’s recent form would suggest he’s a fade candidate tonight, as he’s gone under this mark in five straight games. But he still averaged 15.2 shots, and Mitchell was on the court each time.

A higher uptick in volume should push this over the finish line.

Strus 2+ threes (-305): I’ll be pretty miffed if Strus is the one to sink this SGP.

The shooting guard checks all the boxes to reach this milestone, shooting 40.5% from deep in March and going 8-4 against this line.

Strus takes 77% of his shots from deep, which ranks in the 95th percentile of all NBA players, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The Blazers rank 21st in opponent 3-point rate (36.3%), and Strus went 4-for-11 against them on March 2.

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers predictions made at 11:15 a.m. ET 03/25/2025.

Maple Leafs props vs. Flyers March 25: Bet on Auston Matthews to score, fade Matvei Michkov

Maple Leafs prop picks

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the downtrodden Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

The pregame narrative: Philadelphia has lost 10 of its last 11 games and is a prime candidate for Toronto to pounce on as the Leafs look to secure the Atlantic Division. I’m backing Auston Matthews to score and am fading Matvei Michkov.

Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Flyers for March 25.

Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Flyers

Best Bet: Matthews to score (-127)

Embed: #111670

Anything short of a win would be unacceptable for the Maple Leafs coming off a blown two-goal lead against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Philadelphia (28-35-9, 28th place in NHL) got shelled on Sunday, 7-3, by the Chicago Blackhawks of all teams and has its eyes on the golf course with 10 games to play.

Matthews has begun to look like his old self, and I expect him to lead from the front. Check out the captain’s numbers over the last five games:

  • 4 goals
  • 7 points
  • 21 shots (team-high)
  • 39 chances (team-high)
  • 19.05% shooting percentage

Matthews’ SH% in that span is notably greater than his season-long average (12.2%).

Samuel Ersson seems the likely candidate to start in goal for the Flyers with backup Ivan Fedotov giving up a seven-spot on Sunday — and it’s not like he’s been reliable.

Ersson ranks 40th in goals against average (3.00) and 50th in save percentage (.886).

Key stat: Matthews has six goals in his last six games against the Flyers, cashing this bet four times.

Quick pick

Michkov to not record a point (-124): Philadelphia’s goaltending has been awful, but its offence has also grown anemic at the worst time. That’s a pretty solid recipe for losing 10 of 11 games.

The Flyers are averaging 1.72 goals during this stretch, and Michkov has gone pointless in six of his last eight.

The Russian winger did put up two assists against the Blackhawks on Sunday, but Chicago is one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL.

Toronto has elite goaltending with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz operating in tandem, and its defensive lynchpin, Chris Tanev, is back in the lineup.

I expect a frenzied defensive effort from the Maple Leafs tonight after Saturday’s embarrassment.

Maple Leafs vs. Flyers prop picks made at 9:38 a.m. ET 03/25/2025.

March Madness Sweet 16 odds, schedule and matchups: All four No. 1 seeds are heavy favourites

March Madness Sweet 16 odds

March Madness’ first weekend was fairly chalky but that means there are some great matchups on deck.

The latest: All four No. 1 seeds are alive and each is a sizeable favourite in the Sweet 16. John Calipari’s No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks are the only double-digit seed remaining and they’re slim underdogs to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Check out the latest March Madness Sweet 16 odds and the full schedule for this week’s games.

March Madness Sweet 16 odds

Thursday’s schedule

BYU Cougars (6) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (2)
Thursday, March 27: 7:09 p.m. ET

Embed: #111657

Alabama survived a scare in the first round but responded with a blowout win over the No. 5 Saint Mary’s Gaels.

The Crimson Tide allow 81.0 points per game (346th in D-I) and overs are 19-15-1 in their games. Overs are 21-14 for BYU. This 175 total is by far the highest on the slate.

Maryland Terrapins (4) vs. Florida Gators (1)
Thursday, March 27: 7:39 p.m. ET

Embed: #111658

Florida eked out a win over the two-time reigning champion UConn Huskies thanks to clutch shotmaking by All-American Walter Clayton Jr.

The Terrapins won on the first and only buzzer-beater of the tournament and have covered a +7 spread in every game this season.

Arizona Wildcats (4) vs. Duke Blue Devils (1)
Thursday, March 27: 9:39 p.m. ET

Embed: #111659

The Blue Devils look really, really good. With Cooper Flagg firing on all cylinders, Duke authored a pair of no-doubt wins in the opening rounds.

Arizona has a 10-11 record against Quad 1 opponents, losing six of its last 10 such games.

Arkansas Razorbacks (10) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3)
Thursday, March 27: 10:09 p.m. ET

Embed: #111660

Coach Calipari is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. And all it took was moving to Arkansas from Kentucky and dethroning the No. 2 St. John’s Red Storm in the second round.

The Razorbacks have won four of their last five Quad 1 games and are 9-7 ATS as an underdog.

March Madness Sweet 16 odds: Friday’s schedule

Ole Miss Rebels (6) vs. Michigan State Spartans (2)
Friday, March 28: 7:09 p.m. ET

Embed: #111661

Tom Izzo and the Spartans haven’t advanced past the Sweet 16 since 2019, and they’ll be in tough against a Rebels team coming off a statement win.

Ole Miss blew out the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones and is the shortest underdog on this slate.

Kentucky Wildcats (3) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (2)
Friday, March 28: 7:39 p.m. ET

Embed: #111662

An all-SEC matchup between Kentucky and Tennessee headlines the slate. The Wildcats are 5-1 in their last six games against the Volunteers, winning twice this year as an underdog.

Tennessee is favoured yet again and will hope for a better result.

Michigan Wolverines (5) vs. Auburn Tigers (1)
Friday, March 28: 9:39 p.m. ET

Embed: #111663

Auburn put its shaky end to the regular season in the rearview with two double-digit wins in the opening rounds.

Michigan, meanwhile, has been riding high since its Big Ten title and just sent the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies packing. The Wolverines are 7-2 ATS as an underdog this season.

Purdue Boilermakers (4) vs. Houston Cougars (1)
Friday, March 28: 10:09 p.m. ET

Embed: #111664

Purdue has a Zach Edey-sized hole in its frontcourt and that could be its undoing against a roughrider Houston squad.

The Boilermakers had an easy route to the Sweet 16 facing the No. 12 McNeese Cowboys in the second round, but are 1-6 in their last seven Quad 1 games.

Celtics vs. Kings SGP predictions March 24: Back White and Porzingis at +400

Celtics vs. Kings predictions

The Boston Celtics continue their Western Conference road trip when they battle the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

The pregame narrative: Boston played yesterday and several of its starters are questionable. It looks like Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis are playing, though, and they’re the backbone of this +400 wager.

Check out my Celtics vs. Kings SGP predictions for March 24.

Celtics vs. Kings predictions

Parlay: Kings +12.5 | White 4+ threes | Porzingis 8+ rebounds (+400)

Embed: #111643

Kings +12.5 (-770): At -770 odds this leg might seem like a lame duck. But it boosts this SGP’s odds from +285 to +400 thanks to some negative correlation, which is well worth it.

Let’s start by breaking down who will play for the Celtics.

Boston hasn’t submitted its injury report as of 2:30 p.m. ET, so none of this is set in stone, but it seems likely Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Jaylen Brown (knee) will be sidelined.

White is available while Jrue Holiday and Porzingis — neither of whom played yesterday — are expected to suit up.

The Celtics are a hyper-competitive team with a deep bench, but I would be shocked if they covered this number.

Domantas Sabonis logged a full practice on Sunday and seems poised to make his return. The Kings have covered this number in 46 of 58 games when he’s played.

NBA SGP legs

White 4+ threes (-132): This is a dream matchup for White, who has become one of the league’s most dependable long-range shooters.

  • White has shot above 38.0% from deep in each of the last three seasons.
  • This year, he is averaging career highs in makes (3.5) and attempts (9.1) per game.

The Kings rank dead last in opponent 3-point percentage (38.4%) and give up the second-most 3s per game to opposing shooting guards, per Fantasy Pros.

White has hit at least three 3s in 12 of his last 15 games, clearing this mark eight times.

Porzingis 8+ rebounds (+125): Porzingis has been inconsistent on the glass this season but there aren’t many players in the NBA with a 7-foot-2, 240-pound frame.

He’s flashed his rebounding ceiling in his last two games, logging 10 and 13 rebounds against the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, respectively.

Porzingis is 16-19 against this line but has also finished with seven rebounds six times. If Tatum is indeed sidelined, this should be a great spot for him to outperform his season average (6.9 RPG).

Celtics vs. Kings predictions made at 2:00 p.m. ET 03/24/2025.

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Best NHL anytime goalscorer picks March 24: Back Bo Horvat, Logan Cooley on Monday

NHL anytime goal picks

Monday’s NHL slate features four games and I’ve got goalscorer picks from two of them.

The pregame narrative: Every team involved in these picks is fighting for their playoff lives. I like Logan Cooley to find the net when the Utah Hockey Club host the Detroit Red Wings and Bo Horvat to score for the New York Islanders against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for March 24.

NHL anytime goal picks

Best Bet: Cooley to score a goal (+175)

Embed: #111628

It might be too early to call this a “must-win” game for either team, but it’s pretty darn close.

The Red Wings are five points back of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot while the Hockey Club are six points back of the Western Conference’s eighth seed.

Utah is coming off consecutive blowout wins, while Detroit has dropped eight of its last 10. It’s no secret which team is hotter, and Cooley is in a good spot to produce.

The centre is having a solid sophomore season, with 21 goals and 53 points in 63 games. He’s found the net in three of his last four games, with six total points (4 G, 2 A) in that span.

If you’re looking for a safer play, I love the value on Cooley to notch a point at -139.

Cooley is playing with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on Utah’s top line, and that unit owns a solid 66.67% goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.

Key stat: Detroit is allowing 3.5 goals per game across its last 10. That would be the fifth-highest rate in the NHL on a season-long basis.

Quick pick

Horvat to score a goal (+170): Horvat and the New York Islanders are also in the thick of a playoff race, sitting just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who occupy the final wild-card spot.

The veteran centre is doing his part to push his club across the line with goals in three of his last five games.

The Blue Jackets once occupied a playoff spot but have completely unravelled, losing eight of their last nine games. In that span, they’re allowing an ugly 3.78 goals per game.

It’s unclear who will start in goal for Columbus at the time of writing, but I don’t think it really matters.

Elvis Merzlikins seems the likely candidate and he’s been awful this season, ranking outside of the top 35 in goals against average (3.04) and save percentage (.896).

NHL anytime goal picks made at 9:52 a.m. ET on 03/24/2025.